Alarm device



Jan. 28, 1969 s. M. DE ANGELIS 3,424,122

ALARM DEVICE Filed July 18. 1966 I I INVENTOR 4 s/oivn u valves-u:

ATZ'ORNEVS.

United States Patent 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An alarm device is provided for preventing and frustrating the successful outcome of robberies. The alarm device closely resembles a banded packet of legal currency in size, appearance, thickness, weight, etc. The alarm device has a plurality of compartments therein which include smoke powder, explosive, sirens, etc. An ignition device may be provided for igniting the materials within the compartments. A gasless fuse may be provided for igniting the contents of the alarm device. Alternatively, a remote control may be utilized to ignite the alarm device. The time delay is provided so that the robber will be exiting from the place being robbed when the alarm device is set off.

This invention relates to an alarm device and more particularly to an alarm device for use in financial institutions such as banks, stores and the like which operates to frustrate and prevent the successful outcome of robberies by frightening the robber and drawing attention to him as he leaves the premises with stolen money.

Daytime robberies of banks, financial institutions and the like are increasing at an alarming rate. Such robberies generally follow the same pattern. That is, a lone robber will approach a tellers cage or cash window during business hours. The robber will normally attempt to be as inconspicuous as possible and will attempt to appear like a customer so as not to arouse suspicion. Normally the robber will confront the teller with a private demand for money with a note or by other similar means under threat of harm to the teller and/or the business establishment, its employees and its patrons.

Normally the teller will, as rapidly as possible, deliver those packets of currency which are readily accessible to the robber who normally has a paper bag or some other container in which he will place the money. In some instances the robber will hand the bag to the teller and the teller will directly fill the bag himself. Since time and secrecy is of the essence for such single-handed robberies, the robber will normally stand at the counter for only a very short period of time. However, since he does not want to draw attention to himself by rushing from the premises,

be normally will leave the counter and the premises in the guise of an Ordinary business patron. He will normally not accelerate his pace unless an alarm sensible to him has been raised.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an alarm device which will frustrate and prevent the successful outcome of business hour robberies of banks, financial institutions and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an alarm device which is of similar size, shape, weight and appearance to a banded packet of legal currency so that it will be acceptable to a robber as an actual packet of legal currency during the course of a robbery.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an alarm device which has a delay means incorporated therein so that the alarm will not be activated until the I robber exits the premises so that the teller and/ or patrons within the establishment which has been robbed will not vide an alarm device which will attract attention to the 3,424,122 Patented Jan. 28, 1969 robber by emitting alarming noises, smoke, gas, odors, etc. and thus facilitate the apprehension of the robber.

Yet another object of the present invention is t provide an alarm device which will frighten a robber and tend to cause the robber to discard the stolen money and thereby frustrate the outcome of the robbery.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an alarm device which will facilitate the apprehension of robbers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an alarm device which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, reliable in operation, and highly eifective in use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an alarm device which has means for preventing inadvertent operation of the alarm.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The above and other objects are accomplished by means of the present invention. To prevent and frustrate the successful outcome of robberies an alarm device is placed in the bag with the money which has been stolen. The alarm device closely resembles a banded packet of legal currency in size, appearance, thickness, weight, etc. The alarm device comprises a container having a plurality of compartments therein. The edges of the container are camouflaged so as to appear to be the edges of a band of money. Smoke powder, explosives, sirens, etc. may be provided within the compartments of the container. An ignition device may be provided for igniting the materials which are within the compartments. The ignition device may be housed within the container or may be entirely outside the container. The alarm device may be remotely operated or may be operated by the teller. A protective casing is provided for the container to prevent inadvertent or accidental operation of the alarm device. A single currency bill may be placed on the top and bottom of the alarm device so that upon examination the alarm device will appear to be a banded packet of legal currency.

The alarm device may be provided with a gasless fuse and a means for initiating operation of the gasless fuse. The teller will normally ignite the gasless fuse by any of various means and the gasless fuse will burn for a predetermined period of time so that a delay is provided before the alarm device is initiated. Strands of fireworks fuse commonly known as black match or the equivalent thereof may be provided within the container and may be connected to the various compartments. The gasless fuse will ignite the black match and the black match will thereafter ignite firecrackers, whistling firecrackers, smoke mix, etc. The time delay is provided so that the robber will be either exiting from the bank or immediately outside the bank. The alarm will provide a means for facilitating the apprehension of the robber. Furthermore, it will tend to frighten the robber and thereby cause him to discard the stolen money. The contents of the alarm device are chosen so that the operation of the alarm device will not injure other banded packets of money which are adjacent the alarm device.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view partially in section of an alarm device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section view taken along line 2--2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial section view of another embodiment of the alarm device of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a section view of still another embodiment of an alarm device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 an alarm device generally indicated by the numeral 10.

A protective generally rectangular casing 12 is adapted to fit over the alarm device to protect against inadvertent or accidental operation of the device 10. The alarm device 10 generally comprises a container 14 and may be provided with stage money or actual money bills 16 on the top and/or bottom thereof. In the preferred embodiment, actual bills are used on the top and bottom of the device 10. A money wrapper .18 may be wrapped around the device 10 so that the device 10 will closely approximate the appearance of a banded packet of legal currency. The edges 20 of the device 10 may also be camouflaged to appear like the edges of a banded packet of legal currency. 7

As more clearly seen in FIGURE 2, the device 10 is provided with a plurality of compartments. The device 10 has a main compartment 22 and a plurality of smaller compartments 24, 26, 28 and 30.

A large quantity of smoke powder 32 is within the main compartment 22. The smoke powder 32 may be of any conventional type. Two suitable smoke powders include Flaming Red B which includes 5% perchlorate,

4% antimony sulfide, 10% ro'damine red and 1% gum arabic and paranitraniline red. Other suitable smoke mixes may also be used. Suitable explosives 34 may be placed in the smaller compartments 24, 26, 28 and 30. The explosives 34 may be conventional fire crackers or may be a whistling device commonly known in the trade as a whistling firecracker which emits a shrill, startling, explosive whistle followed by a loud retort. Other suitable explosives may also be placed in the smaller compartments. However, the explosives should be chosen so that they are sufficiently loud to be heard but do not explode the alarm 10 and interrupt the burning of the smoke powder.

A gasless delay fuse 36 is also housed within the device 10. The gasless delay fuse 36 may be of the conventional type such as that used in commercial blasting caps. Such fuses contain 40% barium peroxide, 40% tellerium and 20% selenium. However, other suitable gasless fuses may also be used.

Strands of fuse 40 commonly known as black match" may be connected to the gasless fuse and may be connected to the other ends thereof to the smoke powder 32 and/or the explosives 34. The black match or fireworks fuse 40 will burn rapidly in comparison to the burning of the gasless fuse 36. The gasless fuse 36 may take approximately 30-40 seconds to burn prior to igniting the fuse 40. The fuse 36 may be selected so as to burn for any desired length of time prior to igniting the fuse 40.

An ignition device 38 is provided for igniting the fuse 36. The ignition device 38 includes a source of energy 42 and a circuit 44 which is to be energized by the source 42. The source of energy 42 may be a battery or any other suitable means. For the convenience the source 42 will be referred to hereinafter as a battery. The circuit 44 will create suflicient heat at resistor 46 to ignite an ignition charge 47 which will thereafter ignite the gasless fuse 36. Spring members 48 and 50 are conductors which are spring biased into engagement with the battery 42 and are utilized to complete the circuit 44. Suitable insulating devices 52 are provided to prevent accidental or inadvertent completion of the circuit 44. The insulators 52 have pull rings 54 connected thereto. The insulators 52 may be readily removed from the device 10 by merely pulling on the pull rings 54. After the insulators 52 have been removed the circuit 44 will be complete thus igniting the charge 47 and the fus 36.

The spring member 50 is connected to a plug 56 which may readily be removed from the alarm device 10 so that the alarm device will be completely disarmed. Thus the alarm device may readily be rendered ineffective by merely removing the plug 56.

The housing for the alarm device 10 may be made of light cardboard or plastic or heavy paper or other suitable material or combination of materials of a suitable strength which will be insuflicient to prevent proper operation of the explosive whistle, explosives and free ignition and burning of the smoke powder.

The operation of the device 10 is as follows: The protective rectangular casing 12 is removed from the device 10. The insulators 52 are removed by pulling the pull rings 54. The circuit 44 will be completed and will ignite the gasless fuse 36. The gasless fuse 36 will burn for a predetermined set period and will thereafter ignite the black match 40. The black match 40 will thereafter rapidly ignite the smoke powder 32 and the explosives 34. The explosives 34 may be conventional firecrackers, whistling firecrackers, or other suitable explosives.

A teller or cashier could readily keep the alarm device of the present invention close at hand. Should a robber confront the teller or cashier with a demand for money the teller could readily and easily initiate operation of the device 10 and give the device to the robber. The device 10 would be placed in a bag or other such article by either the robber or the teller and the device will remain relatively dormant for a sufiicient period of time to enable the teller to attain a position of safety and to permit the robber to begin his escape. However, the escape of the robber will be interrupted in a relatively short period of time by the operation of the alarm device.

Another embodiment of the ignition device of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 3. The ignition device comprises a pull wire or pull cord 60 which may be anchored in the tellers cash drawer. The pull wire 60 passes through a plug 62 and a member 64 which is molded around the pull wire 60. The end 66 of the pull wire 60 is impregnated with material which act upon an ignition charge 68 to thereby ignite the basless fuse after the pull wire 60 has been pulled. The embodiment disclosed in FIGURE 3 may be utilized without a protective casing. The alarm device shown in FIGURE 3 functions in all other respects in the same manner as the alarm device 10 set forth in FIGURES 1 and 2.

A further embodiment of an alarm device embodying the principles of the present invention is shown in FIG- URE 4. The ignition device 70 includes a battery 72 which is adapted to operate a circuit 74. The circuit 74 is connected to a receiving unit 76. The receiving unit may be a conventional miniature transistor type receiver having a selectively tuned coil and battery powered transistor amplifier. The receiver 76 may be tuned to pick up signals emitting from oscillators which may be mounted in all exit portals of the bank or other similar institution. The oscillators may be energized by pushbuttons operated by any teller. In this embodiment, the gasless delay fuse 78 is much shorter and will operate to ignite the explosives 80 and the smoke mix 82 in approximately five seconds after the robber has passed through an exit portal. The operation of the alarm device shown in FIG- URE 4 is otherwise the same as that disclosed in FIG- URES 1 and 23.

The ignition device for the alarm of the present invention may include a battery which is external to the alarm device. Such a battery may be anchored in the tellers cash drawer conveniently arranged so that the teller may close the circuit by pushing the alarm device against the battery before taking it from the drawer. Many variations of the contents of the alarm device may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the battery powered working parts within the alarm device may emit a loud warning noise by means the alarm device may emit a loud warning noise by means sounder or bell.

A further embodiment could provide for a compressed gas powered siren or whistle in which the gas is preferably colored and/ or nauseating or temporarily incapacitating. A further embodiment could provide for various loud warning signals produced by any stored energy source other than those mentioned heretofore such as compressed or coiled springs and the like. Furthermore, various other initiating devices such as hyper-gallic, chemical, catalytic, mechanically operated primers, etc. with appropriate safety means connected thereto may be utilized.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide delay producing devices which may be chemical, catalytic, mechanical, clockwork, dash pot, etc., which provide delays similar to those provided by the gasless delay fuse used in the preferred embodiment.

The contents of the alarm device may be varied to produce any desired effect. Variations in the arrangement and contents of the alarm device are contemplated by the present invention. Thus, the contents of the alarm device may include only fireworks or any mixer of smoke mixes and fireworks or a smoke mix which emits a nauseating odor, etc.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a container camouflaged to simulate a packet of legal currency, an alarm means within said container, means supported by said container for initiating said alarm means after a predetermined time delay whereby the alarm means will be activated to draw attention to the location of the article of manufacture, said container including a plurality of compartments, said initiating means includes an ignition mechanism operatively associated with a delay fuse, said delay fuse being within one of said compartments in said container, a protective casing mounted over said article of manufacture for preventing inadvertent and accidental operation of the alarm means, at least one strand of rapidly burning fuse operatively associated with said delay fuse, said strand of rapidly burning fuse being connected to said alarm means and being adapted to ignite said alarm means after said ignition mechanism has been operated, said alarm means including smoke powder and at least one explosive device.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a container camouflaged to simulate a packet of legal currency, and

alarm means within said container, means supported by said container for initiating said alarm means after a predetermined time delay whereby the alarm means will be activated to draw attention to the location of the article of manufacture, said initiating means including a source of energy connected to a heat producing means, an ignition charge, and a delay fuse, said heat producing means being operatively associated with said ignition charge and adapted to ignite said ignition charge, and said ignition charge being adapted to ignite said delay fuse, said alarm means includes smoke powder and explosives so arranged that upon ignition the explosive mechanisms will not extinguish the burning smoke powder, said delay fuse being a gasless fuse, said ignition means comprising a pull wire having a loop attached to one end thereof, said loop being impregnated with material for initiating operation of said gasless fuse, and a member around said pull wire wherein pulling on said pull Wire will cause said material within said loop to escape and ignite said gasless fuse.

3. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 2 including a receiving unit supported within said container, said receiving unit adapted to be operated by a remote control device outside said container to ignite said delay fuse.

4. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 2 wherein said source of energy has insulating means adjacent thereto to prevent operation of said heat producing means, and means connected to said insulating means for facilitating rapid removal of said insulating means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,451,581 4/1923 Lorig et al.

1,563,176 11/1925 Eimer 116-99 1,701,700 2/1929 Smith 116-99 1,863,965 6/1932 Bridgeman 116-75 3,053,416 9/1962 Harner 116-2 3,167,050 1/1965 Johnson 116-124 LOUIS I. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 116-104 

